Parent of a Child Student Visa
The Parent of a Child Student Visa allows one parent to live in the UK to care for a young child who is attending an independent, fee-paying school on a Child Student Visa. It's a narrow, tightly defined route — only one parent may hold it, the child must be aged 4 to 11, and it does not lead to settlement. It's easily confused with the separate "Parent of a Child" visa under Appendix FM (for parents of British or settled children), which is a different route with different requirements entirely. We make sure families apply under the correct category from the outset, and plan ahead for what happens once the child turns 12.
We review the child’s immigration position, the proposed living arrangements and the evidence relevant to the parent’s application. We explain the conditions of this route before confirming the work we can undertake.
Who This Visa Is For
You may qualify for this visa category if you are:
A parent whose child (aged 4–11) holds, or is applying at the same time for, a Child Student Visa at a licensed independent school
Families where only one parent intends to relocate to the UK to care for the child, while the other remains based abroad
Parents already in the UK on this route who want to extend as their child continues at school, or who need to plan for the child's 12th birthday
The Financial Requirement
Unless exempt, the parent must show funds of £1,560 for each month of their intended stay (up to a maximum of 9 months), plus £625 per month for each additional child other than the Child Student who will be in their care in the UK. This money must be held for at least 28 consecutive days, ending no more than 31 days before the date of application.
Exemption: if the parent is applying to extend their permission from inside the UK and has already held permission here for more than 12 months, they're generally deemed to satisfy the financial requirement without needing to show funds again.
Age Limits and Length of Stay
This is the defining constraint of the route:
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The child must be aged 4 to 11 at the date the parent's application is made
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Permission is granted until whichever comes first: the Child Student's visa expiring, or the child's 12th birthday
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The visa can be extended while the parent continues to meet the eligibility requirements, but it automatically ends at age 12 regardless of how much longer the child remains at school
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, you must show:
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Be aged 18 or over
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Be the parent (or have parental responsibility for) a child who holds, or is applying at the same time for, a Child Student Visa, or who currently holds a Tier 4 (Child) Visa
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Be the only parent accompanying the child in the UK — the child's other parent must remain based abroad and cannot themselves apply to join under this route
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Intend to live with the child throughout their stay in the UK
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Meet the financial requirement for themselves, the child, and any other children in their care in the UK
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Not intend to make the UK their main home, and be able to show they can maintain a home outside the UK in addition to meeting the UK financial requirement
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Provide a TB certificate if applying for entry clearance for more than 6 months from a listed country
How We Help — Our Process
Free Initial Consultation
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Financial Evidence
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Documentation
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Application Submission
Forward Planning
Key Facts
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Length of stay: until the Child Student's visa expires or the child turns 12, whichever is sooner
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English language requirement: none
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Processing time: standard decisions are typically made within 3 weeks of your appointment; priority services may be available for an additional fee
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Settlement: this route does not lead to Indefinite Leave to Remain